Freshwater+Biomes

how about some references?

=Introduction: =

[[image:kerrapes/Freshwater_Biome_600.jpg width="369" height="286" align="right"]]

 * =====This biome consists of small bodies of water. =====
 * =====These biomes include lakes, rivers, streams, and creeks. =====
 * =====They all dump water into a marsh area, typically from the mouth of the rivers. =====
 * =====Freshwater biomes cover 20% of the Earth and they are vital to our survival. =====
 * =====More than half of the drinking water for humans and animals come from this resource. =====
 * =====Usually in locations where there is plenty of nutrition and minerals. =====
 * =====They vary in size significantly which can make giving characteristics of them difficult. =====
 * =====As long as there is a pool of water that is free of salt it can be considered a freshwater biome, since the presence of salt is harmful to plant and animal life. =====
 * =====The dips and ruts that shape freshwater biomes allow for water to be collected. =====
 * =====There is sediment found at the bottom of a freshwater biome. =====
 * =====Unlike an ocean biome with salt water which is always moving, some freshwater biomes remain still all the time. =====

Location: there are lots more, eh?

 * =====Florida =====
 * =====Amazon River =====
 * =====<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Russian lakes =====

=<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 170%;">Flora: a sampling, eh? =
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Different types of grass and sedge
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Trees
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Spike rush
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Bull rush
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Pickerel weeds
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Cattails
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Water lilies
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Cyanobacteria
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Mangrove leaves

=<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 170%;">Fauna: =

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Freshwater biomes have a diverse group of species due to <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; text-decoration: line-through;"> it’s variety <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> in temperatures and locations. From lakes and ponds to rivers and wetlands, wildlife has adapted to the conditions of their biome.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Although there is some distinction in species between the freshwater biomes, the cladoceran is the most prevalent in all of the biomes. They feed on blue-green algae, known as cyanobacteria, which is also common throughout freshwater. Trout, salmon, and bass are also common in rivers and lakes.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The wildlife of the lakes and ponds include:
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Phytoplankton
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Zooplankton

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Streams and Rivers:
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Trout
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Heterotrophs
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Algae
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Catfish
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Carp

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The fish of the streams and rivers require less oxygen, allowing them to thrive in rivers and streams. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Wetlands:
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Pond lilies
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Cattails
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Sedges
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Ducks

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">A number of insects also thrive in freshwater biomes. They include:
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Black flies[[image:leech.jpg width="417" height="314" align="right" caption="Leeches are often found and freshwater biomes. "]]
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Ticks
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Leeches
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Chiggers
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Dragonflies
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Butterflies

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Amphibians and reptiles include:
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Turtles
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Water Moccasins
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Alligators
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Freshwater Crocodile

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Mammals are higher up on the <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> food chain. These include:
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Manatees
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Otters
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Beavers

=<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 170%; vertical-align: baseline;">Seasonal Temperatures: =

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">During the summer months, average temperatures range from 4 to 22 degrees Celsius. As the depth of the water increases, the temperature decreases. Lakes have lower temperatures at lower depths as opposed to rivers due to the lack of movement in the water.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The littoral zone, or the shallowest areas of water, is warmest since it can absorb the sun’s heat. The limnetic zone, just below the littoral zone, absorbs a fair amount of the sun’s rays as well. The profundal zone has significantly lower temperatures and is much denser than the first two zones.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The temperatures in freshwater biomes and lakes vary by season and depth, but have an overall uniform temperature. In between each zone is the thermocline zone. It is an area where the temperature of the water changes rapidly. Wind causes the zones to mix and create an average temperature of the water.



=<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 170%;">Seasonal Precipitation: = =<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 170%;">Human Impacts/Interactions: =
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">On average, freshwater biomes receive about 10-80 inches of rainfall each year.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">A few areas of freshwater biomes can receive as much as 100 inches in a year.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Fish populations in freshwater biomes have declined over 20% in the past 20 years.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Dams and water diversion systems block the natural migration routes of animals.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Water withdrawal shrinks habitats and takes away the natural water sources for the wildlife in that region.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Water runoff pollutes the water with industrial dumping, fertilizers, and pesticides.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Wastewater and sewage is also released into the natural water cycle, killing fishes and releasing bacteria.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Sewage also creates algae blooms which take up most of the water’s needed oxygen.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Global warming from the human population has caused unnatural floods and droughts which unbalance nature.